Atlanta Code Enforcers Begin Clipping Listing Agents For Building Violations On Run-Down Homes For Sale

In Atlanta, Georgia, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:

• Atlanta real estate agents trying to weather the slumping market by selling foreclosures have run into an unexpected problem with a city government tired of neighborhoods overrun with derelict properties. City code inspectors have begun ticketing some listing agents, holding them liable for code violations on run-down properties they are selling, often for out-of-state institutions.

• Several agents with similar properties have been hauled into court over the past few weeks — yet another offshoot of a foreclosure crisis that's spread across the region but hit certain intown neighborhoods especially hard. Agents, already under pressure from declining sales, say the city's unfairly picking on them because they are easy targets. The city, they say, should be applauding their efforts to get foreclosed properties into the hands of new owners who will properly care for them. City officials say they just want some of the blight cleaned up.

Reportedly, the City of Atlanta nailed one local agent with $3300+ in fines last month in connection with one of his real estate listings.

For more, see Atlanta ticketing real estate agents for run-down properties. neighborhood destruction from foreclosures kappa